Valve-operating mechanism for steam-engines.



* W. H. BATES. .VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR STEAM ENGINES.

APPLIUATIQN FILED DEC.. 11, 1911.

Patnted Dec. 15, 1914.

W. H. BATES.

VALVE @PERATING MEGHANlsM P011 STEAM ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.11.1911.

Patenteanec. 15,1914.

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1. hmmm W. H. BATES.

VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM PoE STEAM ENGINES.

ABPLIGATION PTLBD 11120.11, 1911.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

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W. H. BATES. VALVE OPERATING MEGHANISM POR STEAM ENGINES.`

APPLICATION'FILED DEC.11.1911.

1,120,994. Patented Deo. 1.5, 1914.

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VILLIATII BATES, C?? C-CAGG, ILLINOIS.

VALVE-OPERATING IVIAECHANISM FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

Application led December 11, 1911.

To all 'whom t may concern.' Y

Be it known that I, `WILLIAM H. BATES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Staterof Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve- OperatingMechanism for Steam-Engines, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as steamengines or the like, and relates particularly to an improved centralizedvalve'gear or operating mechanism.

The device is particularly intended for use on horizontal marineengines, wherein the crank shaft is usually placed at some distance fromthe cross-head, and a comparatively long connecting rod employed. Vithengines of this type the eccentric rod for operating the valve mechanismordinarily extends to the crank shaft. With my improved constructiononly the connecting rod extends to the crank shaft, and a comparativelyshort rod for operating the valve mechanism is employed, the usualeccentric rods, cams and links being eliminated.

The present invention is also an improvement over the engine shown inLetters Patent of the United States No. 7 38,147 Vdated September 8,1903, issued to myself and Robert C. Douglas for a variable cut-oif forsteam engines, and includes an improved mechanism for operating the rod,which operates the supplemental valve mechanism.

My invention also has further among itsr objects the production of anengine of the kind described that is simple, durable, compact, eiiicientand satisfactory.

rlhe invention is particularly suitable for horizontal long strokemarine engines of the type shown and described, but its use, however, isnot confined to such engines, as it may be used wherever foundapplicable.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangementand combination of parts herein shown and. described, and more clearlypointed out in the claims.

' 1n the drawings, wherein likev reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts, Figure 1 is a. top plan view ofa portion of theengine, showing the cross-head and guides therefor, and my improved mainand supplemental valve operating mechanism.' Fig. 2 is a side elevationof one side of the engine, showing a portion of the Speccaton of LettersPatent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

eral No. 665,089.

mechanism for operating the main valve. Fig 3 is a side elevation of theopposite side of the same, showing the mechanism for operating thesupplemental valve mecha-r nism. Fig. 4 is a sectional View takensubstantially online 4, 4 of Fig, 2, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofthe engine cylinder of a horizontal marineengine, showing a portion ofthe Variable cut-off mechanism similar tothat described in the patentpreviouslyy mentioned.

Referring to the drawings, it may be mentioned, in order that the devicemay be more clearly understood, that Fig. 5 is substantially acontinuation of Fig. 8 from line a, a, and that only a portion of theconnecting rod 6 is shown, the remainder of the connecting rod, thecrank shaft, etc., being omitted from the drawings, as the same ispreferably the usual and well known construction. The type of engineillustrated is similar to that described in the patentpreviouslymentioned, and consists of a suitable frame or bed 1, upon which ismounted a cylinder 2, from which is extended the right piston rod 3,which is connected with the cross-head 4 arranged to slide upon thecrosshead guides 5. 1t is also unnecessary to go into details as to theparticular construction of the valve mechanism other than to say thatthe main valve is operated by the valve stem 10, and the supplementalvalves, which afford an adjustable variable cut-o, are op- 1 erated bythe rod 11, connected to a plate 12 pivotally mounted on a shaft 13,'thesup-y plemental valve mechanism being operated bythe rod 11and theregulation being controlled as described in the above mentioned patent.n

As previously mentioned, in the present construction he eccentric rodsto the crank shaft cams, etc., usually employed, are omitted. 1n placeof the eccentric rod I arrange a rod 15, preferably in proximity to thecrossshead guides 5, and extending along the same. rhe rod 15 ispivotally secured at one end at 1G to an arm 17, which is pivotallycarried by a shaft or pin 19, carried by the bearingbracket 20. Theopposite end of the rod 15 is pivotally secured at 22 to anarm 21, whichis pivotally carried byv` a pin 25, supported by the bearing bracket 24.In the preferred construction, .provide armslS and 2G, which formsubstantially bell cranks withthe arms'17 and 21 andconnect the freeends of the armslS and 26 by a rod 28 27 and 29.

To one of the shafts or pins 25 or 19, preferably to the shaft 25, 1secure an arm 31. The arm 31 is pivotally connected at 33 to a rod 32,which is preferably connected by a suitable reversing gear to the stem10. r1`he type of reversing gear shown is well known and comprises asaw-buck 35, having its central portion arranged between two pins 3S and39, carried by a part 37 on a rotatable rock shaft 36. To maintain theparts in position, the plate or bar 40 (see Fig. 4) is preferablyarranged at the ends of the bolts 38 and 39. The vertical position oradjustment of the saw-buck 35 is controlled by a rod 45 extendingtherefrom, which may be raised or lowered by a rod 46, so that as therod 46 is raised or lowered, the saw-buck part 35 is raised or loweredto engage the upper pin 38, or the lower pin 39, as may be desired.Shifting the parts as described of course changes the direction ofrocking of shaft 36 relative to the travel of the piston. The regularshaft 36 is preferably extended upwardly to form a bracket 47. A rod 48is pivotally connected at 49 (see Fig. 4) the rod 48 being suitablyconnected tothe main valve rod 10 (see Figs. 1 and 5).

Secured to the connecting rod 6, is a bracket 51, which carries a part52 pivotally secured Vto the bracket at 53, the part 52 being adapted toslide back and forth on the rod 15 as the'connecting rod is operated. Asthe engine is driven, the bracket 51 is recip rocated, drawing down therod 15 over the guides at one end, as shown at the crank end, as thepiston moves forward, and rais-1 ing the opposite end as it isreciprocated back toward the piston or cylinder. Drawing down andraising the ends of the rod 15 as the piston reciprocates back andforth,

operates the valve rod 10, the movement ofv the bar or rod l5 beingvcommunicated through the bell crank 21, shaft 25, arm 31 and rod 32,saw-buck 35, one of the pins on the bars 37, bar 37, rock shaft 36, arm47, the connecting rod 48, thereby operating the main valve to performits usual functions. )Vith this construction it is not necessary toextend a rod to the crank shaft (not shown). For this reason the engineis particularly applicable for marine use in driving stern propellers orwheels, where a long stroke en-V gine with a long connecting rod isusually used.

The mechanism for operating the supplemental valve mechanism issubstantiallysimilar in construction, and comprisesa rod 56 (see Figs.l, 3 and 4) which is pivotally supported at and 58 from the arms 59 and57. The arm 57 is preferably loosely mounted upon the shaft 36, and isprovided with an extending or bell crank arm 63, to which is pivotallysecured at 64 a'supplepivotally secured to the arms Ving bellV crank arm65.

mental valve operating rod 11. The arm 59 is pivotally supported at 61from a bearing bracket 62, and is provided with an extend- The arm 63and arm 65 are tied together by a rod 66, pivotally secured to the armsat 64 and 67 respectively. f

Carried by the cross head 4 is an extended arm 68 provided with abearing box or plate 69, which embraces the rod 66, the part 68 beingpreferably secured at 70 of the cross head. The operation of thismechanism is substantially similar to that previously described foroperating the main valve. As the cross-head is reciprocated back andforth, the rod56 is operated so as to operate or rock the arm 57,thereby rocking the arm 63 and operating the supplemental valveoperating rodll. Operating the rod 11 rocks the plate 12 (see Fig. 5)which, in turn, controls the supplemental valve mechanism in the mannerdescribed in the patent previously mentioned.

It is, of course, understood that either one or both the mechanismsdescribed for both valve mechanisms may be employed, or that the samemay be employed for operating only one of the mechanisms. I do not wishto be understood as limiting myself to the use ofthe constructionembodying a variable cut-olf, inasmuch as the same may be used whereverfound applicable; neither do I wish to be understood as limiting the useof the same to a horizontal marine engine of the type mentioned. Theadvantages of this construction, particularly when applied to ahorizontal marine engine of the type described, are many. Eccentricrods, cams, links, etc., are eliminated, removing the diiiiculty oftenexperienced in the'breaking of these parts, lespecially on boatsoperated in shallow riversor waters, where overhanging limbs of trees,etc., are liable to come in contact with the parts. The valve gear is inplainV sight of the engineer and accessible without going outside of theboat, and the room usually taken up on the crank shaft by eccentrics,cams and the like, allows just that much more space for the paddlewheels, so that longer'lengths of paddle wheels may be used. Y

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing fromthe spirit of my invention, hence 1 do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement andcombination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. 1n avalve operating mechanism, the combination with a Vvalve and areciprocating engine part, of valve gear including a longitudinally andtransversely movable bar disposed longitudinally with relation to thedirection oit' movement of said reciprocating part, means foroperatively connecting said bar with said reciprocating part wherebysaid bar is actuated, and an oper* ative connection between said bar andvalve.

2. In a. valve operating mechanism, the combination with a valve and areciprocating engine part, of valve gear including a longitudinally andtransversely movable bar disposed longitudinally with relation to thedirection of movement of said reciprocating part, means pivotallyconnected with the reciprocating part and slidably connected with thebar to actuate the same, and an operative connection between said barand valve.

8. The combination in a steam engine including valve mechanism, areciprocating piston rod, cross head and connecting rod, of alongitudinally and transversely movable bar disposed longitudinally withrelation to said rods, supporting means for the bar comprising a pair ofpivotally supported arms connected to the end of the bar, means forconnecting one of said arms` to the valve mechanism, and means carriedby the cross head and movable along the bar for actuating the same.

4. The combination in a steam engine including valve mechanism, a pistonrod, cross head, and a connecting rod, of a longitudinally andtransversely movable bar disposed longitudinally with relation to saidrods, supporting means for said bar including a plurality of pivotallysupported arms,said arms being pivotally connected to saidbar, means forpivotally and slidably connecting the bar with one of the reciprocatingparts of the engine, said means comprising a member pivotally connectedto one of said engine pants and slidably connected with said bar, and'means for transmitting the movement oi said bar to the valve mechanism.

5. The combination in a steam engine including valve mechanism, areciprocating piston rod, cross head and connecting rod, of alongitudinally and transversely movable bar arranged substantiallyparallel with said rods, a pair of brackets carried by the bed of theengine, a, 4pair of arms pivotally carried by said brackets andpivotally connected at their free ends with the bar, one of said armsbeing provided with an arm extending therefrom and forming a bell crank,means for operatively connecting the last mentioned arm with the valvemechanism, and means operatively connecting the bar with one of thereciprocating parts of the engine.

6. A. valve operating mechanism for steam engines comprising ahorizontally inclined mechanisimand a reciprocating part carried by oneof the reciprocating parts of the engine, and slidable along the saidbar to actuate the same. f

7. The combinationwith a steam engine including valvemechanism, areciprocating .piston rod, a cross head and connecting rod,

of a horizontally inclined longitudinally and transversely movable bardisposed longitudinally with relationto said rods, means for supportingsaid bar, comprising a plurality of pivotally supported arms pivotallyconnected with the bar, one of said arms being provided with a bellcrank, and a connection between said bell crank and the valve rod.

8. The combination of a steam engine provided with main and supplementalvalve mechanisms, a reciprocating piston rod, cross head and connectingrod, of operating mechanism for said valves including ay pair oflongitudinally and transversely movable bars disposed longitudinallywith relation to said rods, means for supporting said bars, means forconnecting one of said bars to the main valve mechanism, means forconnecting the other bar to the supplementalvalve mechanism, meansconnected with the engine connecting rod for operating one of the bars,and means connected with the engine cross head for operating the otherbar. n

9. The combination with a steam engine including main and supplementalvalve mechanisms, a reciprocating piston rod, cross head and connectingrod, of operating mechanism for said valves, including a pair ofylongitudinally and 'transversely movable bars disposed longitudinallywith relation to said rods, means for supporting said bars, means foradjustably connecting one of said bars to the main valve mechanism,means forv adjustably connecting the other bar to the supplemental valvemechanism, means ior operating said bars comprising a member pivotallysecured to the connecting rod of the engine and slidably mounted on theiirst mentioned bar, and a member pivot,- ally connected with the enginecross head and slidably engaging the other bar.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. BATES.

litnesses W. S. BARNES, S. E. Inyrnsn Gopies of this patent may beobtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C,

